AP/Stew Milne
- A granddaughter of Robert F. Kennedy was found dead at 22, The New York Times reported.
- Police responded to reports of an overdose inside at the Kennedy family compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, on Thursday afternoon.
- "Our hearts are shattered by the loss of our beloved Saoirse," the Kennedy family said in a statement. "Her life was filled with hope, promise, and love."
- Visit INSIDER’s homepage for more stories.
A granddaughter of Robert F. Kennedy died at the Kennedy family compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, The New York Times reported. She was 22 years old.
Saoirse Kennedy Hill was the daughter of Paul Michael Hill and Courtney Kennedy Hill. She is the granddaughter of the late Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Kennedy, 91, who said in a statement, "The world is a little less beautiful today."
"Our hearts are shattered by the loss of our beloved Saoirse," the Kennedy family said in a statement. "Her life was filled with hope, promise and love."
The Hyannis News, citing a emergency radio transmissions, said police responded to a call Thursday afternoon. The patient was transported to a local hospital, where she was later pronounced dead, according to The Times. At the time, Saorise’s identity was not released.
Read more: Busboy who held dying RFK speaks of lingering pain
The Times cited two sources saying she died of an apparent overdose. INSIDER has not independently confirmed this report. Assistant District Attorney Tara Miltimore noted in a statement that there was "a reported unattended death" on the premises, and the matter remains under investigation.
Saoirse attended Boston College, where she majored in communication and was vice president of the College Democrats, The Times reported. She also marched with her mother Courtney in a nationwide protest against gun violence, according to The Barnstable Patriot.
The Kennedy family said that Saoirse was "passionately moved by the causes of human rights and women’s empowerment and found great joy in volunteer work, working alongside indigenous communities to build schools in Mexico."
While attending Deerfield Academy, a private preparatory school in Massachusetts, Saoirse wrote about her own experience with mental illness for the student newspaper, writing that her depression "took root in the beginning of my middle school years and will be with me for the rest of my life."
The Kennedy family said she cared deeply for her family and "lit up our lives with her love, her peals of laughter, and her generous spirit."
"We will love her and miss her forever," the Kennedy family said.
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Source: Business Insider – feedback@businessinsider.com (Lauren Frias)